Busy schedule awaits President Aquino in two-day
state visit to Malaysia
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S.
Aquino III will start his two-day state visit here by meeting the Filipino
community upon his arrival. The President is expected to arrive at Kuala Lumpur
International Airport at 3:15 in the afternoon of Thursday (February 27).
In the evening, he will meet the members of the
Filipino community here in Malaysia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
On the second day of his state visit, President
Aquino will meet His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Prime Minister Najib
Abdul Razak at the Parliament House at 9:30am before proceeding to the Prime
Minister's office in Putrajaya.
An expanded bilateral meeting will follow. The
President will be joined by the members of his official delegation in the
meeting. This will be followed by the signing of agreements and the issuance of
a joint press statement.
At 4:30 in the afternoon, the President will
meet the members of the Malaysian business community at the Mandarin Oriental
Hotel.
The President is scheduled to meet Malaysia’s
top business executives such as Datuk Abdul Farid Alias, the president and CEO
of Maybank Berhad; Tony Fernandes, the CEO of Air Asia Berhad; and Tan Sri Lim
Kok Thay, chairman and chief executive of the Genting Berhad.
Tan will also be accompanied by David Chua,
director, chairman and CEO of Genting Hong Kong Ltd and Andrew Tan, chairman
and CEO of Alliance Global Group Inc.
This will be followed by a meeting with His
Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong at the Istana Negara here in Kuala Lumpur to
be followed by a banquet hosted by His Majesty. PND (as)
Palace says PNP constrained to provide security
for Napoles in accordance with court ruling
Malacanang said on Wednesday that the Philippine
National Police is constrained to follow the rule of the court to provide
security for Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the P10-billion
Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, despite the rising costs to
provide protection to a “high-risk detainee.”
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters that the PNP was also
just following the ruling of the court to provide security for Napoles “because
of the threats and because of her involvement in such a high profile case.”
“Unfortunately those are the attendant costs
that come with having a high-risk detaine. And until such time, we will be
constrained to provide the same security to her because of the threats and
because of her involvement in such a high profile case,” Valte said.
“So, until such time unfortunately those are the
attendant costs. And the PNP only follows the order of the court. Kasi yung pag
detain sa kanya sa Fort Sto. Domingo, utos ng court yun. Ang pagdala sa kanya
sa PNP General Hospital, utos din ng korte yun. So, sinusunod lang ng PNP ang
pagpro-provide ng security,” she added. PND (rck)
Government continues to seek best solution to
Manila truck row
The government continues to seek the best
solution to the row between the Manila city government and trucking operators
over a truck ban that is being imposed, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said national government officials are reaching out to both sides to move
forward or at least reach a compromise.
"Everyone is looking for ways to move
forward or at least find a compromise agreement," she said at a media
briefing.
She said the office of Cabinet Secretary Jose
Rene Almendras had called the concerned national government agencies to
"explore ways to move forward" on the issue.
These agencies include:
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Department of Public Works and Highways
Department of Transportation and Communications
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Presidential Communications Development and
Strategic Planning Office
Valte said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino was
tasked to coordinate with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on the matter.
Philippine Ports Authority head Juan Sta. Ana is
talking with the truckers' group, she added.
"Pareho silang well-meaning, may
kanya-kanyang dahilan. Ang task natin is to help them come up with a compromise
acceptable to both of them (Both sides in this row are well-meaning, and they
have their reasons. Our task is to help them come up with a compromise
acceptable to all)," she said. PND (jl)
President Aquino to leave for Malaysia visit
before noon Thursday
President Benigno Aquino III will leave for
Malaysia before noon Thursday for his two-day state visit there, Malacañang
said Wednesday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
cited initial information reaching her indicating the President is scheduled to
leave at 11:30 a.m.
"The President is leaving for his first
state visit to Malaysia tomorrow. I'm told that the schedule is at 11:30 but we
will advise you further if there are any changes," she said at a media
briefing.
She also said the President's delegation may be
smaller than usual.
The President is to have a two-day state visit
in Malaysia Thursday and Friday. PND (jl)
Palace: Phl won't 'respond' to water-cannon
incident
While it said China's water cannon attack on
Filipino fishermen near a disputed shoal may raise tension, Malacañang on
Wednesday said Philippine forces will continue to follow the policy of not
responding to "provocative" acts.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the Philippines chooses to follow the "path of peace" and the
"path of arbitration" in resolving the territorial row.
"The guidance has always been not to
respond to provocative acts. The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces has said
these much as we have selected the path of peace, the path of arbitration, and
we will stick to that as we have done in the past few years," she said at
a media briefing.
When asked if the water cannon incident is
considered a provocative act, Valte said it "indeed raises tensions."
"If my memory serves, this is the first
time that an incident of this manner has transpired," she added.
She was referring to the reported attack on
Filipino fishermen by China last Jan. 27 off Scarborough Shoal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs have lodged a
strong protest with China over the incident.
On the other hand, Valte said the Philippines
already made a solid case before the international community, saying its
position "is based on the rule of law."
"And our approach has also been lauded by
... most of the members of the international community as far as the path of
arbitration we have chosen to take," she said. PND (jl)
DOE Secretary assures full restoration of power
in typhoon Pablo-hit Cateel in 45 days
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla has
assured the full restoration of power within 45 days in Cateel town in Davao
Oriental, which was hit by Typhoon Pablo in December 2012.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said this Wednesday after Petilla discussed the matter with President Benigno
Aquino III in Tacloban City Tuesday.
"The DOE is clearly on point on this and
Secretary Petilla has assured the full restoration of electricity in all
Pablo-affected areas within 45 days. He will be submitting a plan—a memo to the
President containing the details of his action plan," Valte said at a
media briefing.
She said the President had voiced frustration
over the slow restoration of power in Cateel following the onslaught of Pablo.
This frustration stemmed from the supposed
buck-passing among some officials, she noted.
Valte also said Petilla continues to have the
President's trust and confidence.
"Yes, he does," she said when asked if
Petilla still enjoys the President's trust. PND (jl)
